Collapsible work platform



May 1, 1962 M. L. BANK 3,032,148

COLLAPSIBLE WORK PLATFORM Filed Jan. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.MORTON L BANK gezzfi wl May 1, 1962 M. 1 BANK COLLAPSIBLE WORK PLATFORMFiled Jan. 29, 1958 2 l8 1 g ID .5

s a 18 10/ 56 g 1s 14 g 1 E g 30 E a f 1% i Z 24 q 1 l5 a as \J 60 Y E20 (r! 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4s lu IN VENTOR.

MORTON L BANK May 1, 1962 M. L. BANK 3,032,148

COLLAPSIBLE WORK PLATFORM Filed Jan. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 7 s2 463; [26 IH F19. 4 INVENTOR. MORTON L. BANK United States Patent FiledJan. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 711,855 1 Claim. (Cl. 18915.5)

This invention relates generally to scaffolds, elevating devices and thelike, and more particularly has reference to a generally improved deviceof this nature, that will be particularly designed for use in any of alarge variety of work situations.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved scaffoldthat will have a high degree of versatility, in respect to the types ofarticles that can be lifted therewith, the elevations to which thearticles can be lifted, and the relative elevations at which the worker,and the object or equipment supported by the device, may be disposed.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described thatwill have particularly effective, adjustable means that will constitutea safety rail for a worker, and which can also be used as a support forobjects beinglifted.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated that willbe particularly designed for elevating equipment intoposition in a very"short time and with minimum elfort Another object is to so form thescaffold as to permit it to collapse to a size such that it can rollthrough a doorway, even one of very narrow width.

Still another object is to provide an elevating scaffold of thecharacter stated that will be characterized by its high mobility, itsadaptability for elevating both light and heavy fixtures, itsadaptability to support a worker with minimum strain and maximum safety,and its adaptability for use as a mobile, folding work bench.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scaffold according to the presentinvention.

7 FIG. 2 is a perspective view, slightly enlarged above that of FIG. 1,showing the scaffold collapsed for passage thereof through a doorway.

. FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged. fragmentary perspective viewshowing one corner po tion of the scaffold.

FIG. 4 is a reduced, fragmentary perspective view showing the scaffoldequipped with protective side rails.

Referring to the drawing in detail, designated generally at 12 areidentical end frames, disposed in vertical positions and positionedtransversely of the structure at opposite ends thereof. Each end frameincludes vertical, tubular legs 10, and extending in closely spacedparallel relation'to thelegs. at the inner sides of the legs, areelongated tubular members 14, shown to best advantage in FIG. 2. Members14 at their upper ends are fixedly secured to upper cross braces 16,which at their ends are fixedly secured to the upper end portions of therespectivelegs 10. Fixedly connected between the intermediate portionsof the members 14 are spaced cross memhe's 18, while fixedly connectedbetween the lower extremities of the members 14 is a lower cross brace20, the lower cross brace 20 also being fixedly secured to the lower endportion of the right end. The members 14 have spaced holes thereal ng.Swiveled wheels or casters 22 a e provided at the lower ends of legs 10.r

A pair of longitudinal or side frames 24 are also pro- 3,032,148Patented May 1, 1962 vided, and these are slidably adjustable verticallyof the respective end frames. Each side frame is extended between and isconnected to corresponding sides of the end frames, and the side framesare pivotally connected at their ends to the end frames, so that theentire structure can be collapsed or folded as in FIG. 2, with therespective side and end frames being relatively pivotable about verticalaxes defined by the legs 10.

Each side frame includes an elongated upper longitudinal member 26 ofangle iron material, and at opposite ends of the member 26 there areprovided gusset plates 30, fixedly secured to the member 26, and alsofixedly secured to sleeves 32 that have a fixed connection to theextremities of the member 26. Lower sleeves 34 are aligned verticallywith the sleeves 32, each pair of aligned sleeves 32, 34 being slidableupon the associated leg 10 between the lower cross brace and upper crossbrace 16 of the end frame. Thus, the side frames are shown in theirlowermost positions in FIG. 2, and in their uppermost positions in FIG.1.

Plates 30 are also rigid with connector bars 28 extending in closelyspaced, parallel relation to legs 10, and connecting bars 36 are alsoprovided. These are also connected between the sleeves 32, 34. As aresult, there is provided a particularly strong connection of the sideframes to the end frames, while still permitting the free relativepivotal movement of the end and side frames.

Each side frame further includes lower longitudinal members 38,extending between and fixedly secured at their ends to the lower sleeves34. Chained pins are carried by the sleeve members 34 for engaging theholes in members 14 as shown in FIGURE 3.

The structure also includes extension side frames generally designated40. Each of these is of inverted U shape, including a horizontallydisposed side rail 42 fixedly secured at its ends to sleeves 44, saidsleeves being rigidly connected to the upper ends of vertically disposedextension legs 46. Legs 46 are secured in selected positions to whichthey are telescopically adjusted relative to and within the legs 10,through the provision of drop pins 48, carried by chains 50, said chainsbeing conneoted to the upper corners of the respective end frames 12.

Legs 46 may be fully telescoped within legs 10 in the manner'shown inFIG. 2, in the lowermost positions of the extension side frames 40.

The extension side frames can be adjusted upwardly to any extentdesired, as shown in FIG. 1, and in each position to which they are soadjusted. pins 48 are insertable through openings 54 spacedlongitudinally of the extension legs 46.

By reason of this arrangement, the scaffold can be extended in avertical direction to a substantial height, as shown in FIG. 1, providinadvantages in the construction which will be described in full detailhereafter.

Designated generally at 56 are jack devices. The jack devices need notbe described in detail hereinafter. since thev are conventional per se.It is sufiicient to note that each jack de ice includes, at its upperend, a U-shaped, work-supporting head 57, and as shown in FIG. 3, thejack devices can be mounted wherever desired upon the scaffold to permitvertical adjustment of the heads 57 relative to the portion of thescaffold that is supporting the jack devices.

Thus. each iack device includes a support bar 58, extendable slidablythrough an opening of a support bracket 60. mounted at a selectedlocation upon the horizontal rails 38. or format matter upon any otherhorizontal rail portion of the scaffold. Brackets may be provided withclamping means, to permit the same to be securely clamped in position.Bars 58 have a fixed connection,--through the provision of connectingbars 62, to the housing 63 of'each jack device; At its upper end, eachbar 58 is secured to an upper clamp 64 connectable to anysuitablehorizontal member, as for example the member 42 in FIG. 3, orthemember 16 in FIG.,2.

' Wherever the jack device is mounted, its movable bar 65 can be shiftedvertically within the housing 63, to locate head 57 at a selectedelevation.

Y The device also includes transverse extension frames, of which therecan be any number, to permit transverse support or guard frames to beerected to any desired height. Each transverse frame includes a crossbar66, rigid adjacent its ends with depending portions 68. The dependinglegs or portions 68 of the lowermost transverse frames 66 may be seatedin associated sleeves 44 of side frames 40. Each frame 66 furtherincludes an upwardly opening socket or opening 70, adapted to receivethe legs 68 of the next higher frame 66. This is clearly shown in FIG. 3and obviously, the transverse frames can be built up at the respectiveends of the device, to extend the end frames in a vertical direction, toany extent desired. The transverse frames66 serve the further functionof providing cross bracing for the extension side frames 40, as will beclearly seen from FIG. 1.

A platform 72 is hingedly connected, along one side, to one of the siderails 42 in any suitable mannerso that the platform can swing downwardlywhen not in use, to permit collapsing of the structure. When theplatform is swung upwardly as in FIG. 3, its respective longitudinaledges seat in the angle iron members 26 as shown in FIG. 3. The hingeconnection of the platform to the rail 42 is completely separable, sothat the platform can be operatively positioned as in FIG. 3, supportedupon the side frames 24. The platform is thus vertically adjustable withthe side frames, and serves to rigidifythe structure so that it will notaccidentally collapse to the FIG. 2 position thereof.

The device also includes extension side frames shown in FIG. 4. Thesehave been generally designated at 73 and are identical in structural andfunctional characteristics to the transverse frames 66, with theexception, of course, that they are substantially, longer than theframes '66. Thus, each side frame 73 includes depending legs 74- rigidlysecured to the end portions of an elongated member 75. Members 75 haveupwardly opening sockets 76, adapted to receive the legs 74 of the nexthigher side frame 73.

Considering the various uses to whichthe devices may be put, it willbenoted, firstly, from FIG. Z that the device can be collapsed to asubstantially flat condition having a relatively small transversedimension and a low height, sufficient to permit theentire scaffold tobe rolled through a narrow doorway. In an actual working em bodiment,the scaffold has been easily movable through "18-inch doorways ofordinary height.

Once inside the room in which it is to be used, the scaffold isradjnstedto its rectangular, working position shown in FIG. 1. The platform ispositioned uponthe respective side frames 24, and the side frames 24,areadjusted vertically to ,whatever extent is desired. The worker may thusbe supported at a high elevation, or at any selected lower elevation.

When the platform is a low elevation, the worker may even use the sameas a Work bench, while standing on the floor. The jack devices may belocated wherever desired, and might, for example, be located where shownin FIG. 1. In these circumstances, one may position a large object, suchas a fluorescent lighting fixture, upon the head 57. Then, by operationof the jack devices, said fixture may be raised so as to be helddirectly against the ceiling at a desired location, While} b g fi edlyattached to the ceiling. The worker operating the jack devices, andmaking'the final connection to the ceiling, canbe supported upon theplatform at any height found des1rable, and found to be most suited tocarrying out of the particular work operation. The platform, in otherwords, is vertically adjustable independently 0f the worksupportingheads 57 of the jacks.

While the worker is performing the necessary Work operations, he may befully protected by a guard frame, which guard frame can comprise anycombination of extension transverse frames 66 or extension side frames73. Still further, the worker'can mount the jack device even upon theextension,'side, or end frames, to'obtain even further elevation of thework.

The extension frames 66 or 73, in fact, are themselves supported uponextension side frames 40, so that it will be apparent that a wide rangeof adjustments, a wide range of protective railings, and an equally widerange of locations and ways in which work pieces can be supported andlifted, are possible through use of the device.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction'herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined,in the appended claim. t

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure 'by United States -,"Letters Patent is:

A scaffold, comprising a-pair of-vertical end frames, each of said endframes including spaced, hollow,'-verti* cal tubular legs, tubularmembers disposed vertically and parallel to the respective legs, saidmembers having spaccd holes therein, cross braces disposed horizontallyjoiningsaid legs and members, a pair of rectangular side frames, each ofsaid side frames including vertically disposed sleeve members disposedat ends thereof and slidably engaged on said legs, chained pins carriedby said sleeve membersand engageable in the holes'in said tubularmembers for supporting said side frames in selected positions on andbetween the end frames, said sideframes having upper angle barsproviding horizontally extending flanges for supporting a rectangularplatform therebetween, end rail assemblies detachably mounted upon therespective end frames, said end rail assemblies including a plurality oflike horizontal end rail members and depending leg elements, eachhorizontal rail member having openings receiving the leg elements of therail member immediately above the same, the leg elements of thelowermost rail rnember being telescopically and adjustably engaged inthe legs of the endframes, and side rail assemblies detachably mountedon the respective end rail assemblies, each side rail assemblyincluding'an elongated horizontal rail member and depending leg members,each rail member of theside rail assemblies having openings receivingthe leg members of the rail member immediately thereabove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,943,871 Landberg Jan. 16, 1934 2,062,473 Norton Dec. 1, 1936 2,203,113Uecker et al. June 4, 1940 2,285,901 Chenowith June 9, 1942 2,290,450'Renschin July 31, 1942 2,311,988 Lavin Feb. 23, 1943 2,335,046 DroegerNov. 23, 1943 2,468,186 Du Perret Apr. 26, 1949 2,593,122 Droeger et al.Apr. 15, 1952 2,599,670 Thomas June 10, 1952 2,882,100 Bank June14, 1959

